Johnnie St. Vrain: Longmont residents miss their squirrels

Posted:
08/21/2014 05:20:50 PM MDT

Updated:
08/21/2014 05:36:48 PM MDT

Johnnie: I am starting to believe that something tragic is up with the squirrel population, too. I also noticed that the two squirrels that frequented my yard for years are now gone. I live in the northeastern part of town, on the far end of Lashley Street near Alpine Elementary School. I know these squirrels all too well (nicknaming one of them Diablo for a reason), and I know they loved my garden too much for them to just up and leave. Something happened there.

I was counting on training those squirrels in my yard to eat my surplus zucchini, but alas, now I am drowning in the stuff. A love/hate relationship with a prolific veggie, instead of with Diablo and his mate. Diablo, oddly, I kind of miss you. — Lisa

Good morning Johnnie: I wanted to echo the fact that we have noticed a decline in squirrels around our house.

We have affectionately watched a squirrel family of four and their routines for years. All are gone, but two new ones recently appeared. We know they are different for they are much smaller/skinnier and have completely different routines (i.e. they never ventured into our strawberry patch for berries; they would only eat ones I left on the fence for them. These two never had mothers show them to raid when possible).

We also have foxes and raccoons, which could account for the absence of the family. We live in Longmont Estates area, by the way.

The main reason I am writing:

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After the flood, I had an idea to find detritus and interesting washed away objects, build sculptures with them, and sell them with proceeds to benefit flood victims. As a professional public artist that lives in Longmont, I felt compelled to do something to give back to my community.

However, after finding and storing all kinds of stuff, I found it to be more directly useful to volunteer all my spare time working directly with folks rehabilitating. I had planned to put all the sculpture work on a website that I created, along with a logo, etc. All of this has since aimlessly languished, and now the website domain is about to expire.

I would like to donate it to a nonprofit if possible. Any idea on how to do this or get the word out locally? The domain name that I registered is "strongmont.com." I am willing to give it away free to a local charitable organization no strings attached. — Mookie

Dear Lisa and Mookie: Three other readers also responded to my column about squirrels — two on the northeast side of town — all saying that the squirrels they were accustomed to seeing are no longer around. "We've always had squirrels," one woman said. "Something is wrong."

However, other readers — primarily via Facebook — responded that they have squirrels and anyone is welcome to come and take them.

I did notice this week's report that the plague has been found in Boulder County prairie dogs, but that doesn't mean there's any connection to Longmont squirrels. And the only evidence I have of fewer squirrels — including from the Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation Center — is anecdotal.

Mookie, the word is out, right now, that you own a domain name that you would like to donate to a nonprofit.

I spoke briefly with Eric Hozempa, executive director of the Longmont Community Foundation.

"Organizations usually want to have their name in their web address," said Hozempa, who can be found at longmontfoundation.org.

"It's nice that he doesn't want to charge anybody," he said. "There are people who buy names and squat on them until a big company needs them ... and(want a big payment)."

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